Apparatus for the provision of a block flange of a manhole aperture or the like, in particular for fluidized bed reactors

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the provision of a block flange of a manhole aperture or the like, in particular for fluidized bed reactors for the oxychlorination of ethylene, oxygen and HCl, having a wall flange fixed in the reactor wall, is intended to provide a solution whereby all other auxiliary measures can be dispensed with and the expense associated therewith can be eliminated without the functionality of the system suffering as a result and without undesirable deposits being formed in these areas.  
     This is achieved in that the flange surface ( 5 ) pointing inward and downward in the direction of gravity is of beveled designs at least in some areas.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the provision of a blockflange of a manhole aperture or the like, in particular for fluidizedbed reactors for the oxychlorination of ethylene, oxygen and HCl, havinga wall flange fixed in the reactor wall.

In what is known as oxychlorination, ethylene, oxygen and HCl ar reactedin a fluidized bed reactor (oxyreactor) over a copper-containingcatalyst to give 1,2-dichloroethane and water. In operation, and whenthe plant is shut down, catalyst deposits may occur in any dead spaceswithin the reactor. The presence of HCl results in the formation ofhydrochloric acid when the temperature falls below the dew point, andhence causes severe corrosion. Particularly at risk here are dead spacesin the shell region, such as any manholes an measuring ports. Attemptshave been made to remedy this disadvantage by, for example, providingheated flushing lines at all measuring ports, in order also to preventadverse effects on measurements and temperatures falling below the dewpoint.

With manhole designs, it is known to equip the lids of said manholesinternally with an additional displacement body which is so designed msto produce the smoothest possible flush transition to the inner surfaceof the reactor shell.

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution whereby all otherauxiliary measures can be dispensed with and the expense associatedtherewith can be eliminated without the functionality of the systemsuffering as a result and without undesirable deposits being formed inthese areas.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, with an apparatusof the type described initially in that the flange surface pointinginward and downward in the direction of gravity is of beveled design, atleast in some areas.

The invention entails a number of advantages, for example in thatpossible dead spaces in which catalyst deposits may be formed arereduced and all heated flushing lines that are employed in theconventional solutions, with filter stations, flowmeters, condensatecollectors, mountings and the like, are eliminated,

In an embodiment, it is envisaged that the surface bevel is so great, atleast in its area that is lowest in the direction of gravity, thatdeposition of catalyst granules or the like is prevented.

It is particularly advantageous it, as the invention likewise envisages,the bevel of the surface is designed to increase, beginning from thehorizontal median plane in the inner edge region toward the verticalcenter of the flange ring.

With this design, a smooth, homogeneous, funnel-like slide is formed,directed toward the interior of the reactor, so that, for example, whenthe reactor is switched off and the fluidized bed sinks, the depositionof catalyst material or the like is reliably prevented.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention are apparentfrom the description that follows and from reference to the drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a block flange accordingto the invention,

FIG. 2 shown a simplified sectional view of a manhole,

FIG. 3 shows a simplified sectional view of a block flange approximatelyin accordance wits FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block flange generally designated 1 according tothe invention is welded into a reactor wall 2. The block flange has acertain cylindrical extent and has a passage aperture 3, for example fora measuring instrument, a probe or the like.

In its inward-pointing area, designated 2 a in FIG. 2, the flange innersurface 4 is beveled, the bevel being designated 5 in FIG. 1. Thisbeveled surface 5 begins approximately at the center horizontal line 6of the flange 1, extends as far ae the horizontal center, designated 7,of the flange and from there onward to the vertical center 6, so that aform of slide results. Material falling thereon is automaticallyrejected as a result of gravity.

FIG. 2 shows a manhole design, and here again a corresponding flangedesign is shown, the manhole hoeing closed by a cover designated in thiscase 8.

FIG. 3 shows a block flange 1 of this type in section.

The examples of embodiment of the invention described can of course bemodified in a great many respects without departing from the basicconcept. Thus, the flange 1 or 1 a can, in particular, be welded inflush with the inner wall surface of the reactor wall 2, the flange orflange bore 3 can be arranged at a slightly downward-pointing angle toassist the sliding-off of material falling thereon, and so on.

The invention relates to an apparatus for the provision of a blockflange of a manhole aperture or the like, in particular for fluidizedbed reactors for the oxychlorination of ethylene, oxygen and HCl, havinga wall flange fixed in the reactor wall.

In what is known as oxychlorination, ethylene, oxygen and HCl arereacted in a fluidized bed reactor (oxyreactor) over a copper-containingcatalyst to give 1,2-dichloroethane and water. In operation, and whenthe plant is shut down, catalyst deposits may occur in any dead spaceswithin the reactor. The presence of HCl results in the formation ofhydrochloric acid when the temperature falls below the dew point, andhence causes severe corrosion. Particularly at risk here are dead spacesin the shell region, such as any manholes and measuring ports. Attemptshave been made to remedy this disadvantage by, for example, providingheated flushing lines at all measuring ports, in order also to preventadverse effects on measurements and temperatures falling below the dewpoint.

With manhole designs, it is known to equip the lids of said manholesinternally with an additional displacement body which is so designed msto produce the smoothest possible flush transition to the inner surfaceof the reactor shell.

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution whereby all otherauxiliary measures can be dispensed with and the expense associatedtherewith can be eliminated without the functionality of the systemsuffering as a result and without undesirable deposits being formed inthese areas.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, with an apparatusof the type described initially in that the flange surface pointinginward and downward in the direction of gravity is of beveled design, atleast in some areas.

The invention entails a number of advantages, for example in thatpossible dead spaces in which catalyst deposits may be formed arereduced and all heated flushing lines that are employed in theconventional solutions, with filter stations, flowmeters, condensatecollectors, mountings and the like, are eliminated.

In an embodiment, it is envisaged that the surface bevel is so great, atleast in its area that is lowest in the direction of gravity, thatdeposition of catalyst granules or the like is prevented.

It is particularly advantageous if, as the invention likewise envisages,the bevel of the surface is designed to increase, beginning from thehorizontal median plane in the inner edge region toward the verticalcenter of the the flange ring.

With this design, a smooth, homogeneous, funnel-like slide is formed,directed toward the interior of the reactor, so that for example, whenthe reactor is switched off and the fluidized bed sins, the depositionof catalyst material or the like is reliably prevented.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention are apparentfrom the description that follows and from reference to the drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a block flange accordingto the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a simplified sectional view of a manhole, and

FIG. 3 shows a simplified sectional view of a block flange approximatelyin accordance with FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block flange generally designated A) 1 accordingto the invention is welded into a reactor wall 2. The block flange has acertain cylindrical extent and has a passage aperture 3, for example fora measuring instrument, a probe or the like.

In its inward-pointing area, designated 2 a in FIG. 2, the flange innersurface 4 is beveled, the bevel being designated 5 in FIG. 1. Thisbeveled surface 5 begins approximately at the center horizontal line 6of the flange 1, extends as far as the horizontal center, designated 7,of the flange and from there onward to the vertical center 6, so that aform of slide results. Material falling thereon is automaticallyrejected as a result of gravity.

FIG. 2 shows a manhole design, and here again a corresponding flangedesign is shown, the manhole being closed bat a cover designated in thiscase 8.

FIG. 3 shows a block flange 1 of this type in section.

The examples of embodiment of the invention described can of course bemodified in a great many respects without departing from the basicconcept. Thus, the flange 1 or 1 a can, in particular, be welded inflush with the inner wall surface of the reactor wall 2, the flange orflange bore 3 can be arranged at a slightly downward-pointing Q angle toassist the sliding-off of material falling thereon, and so on.

1. An apparatus for the provision of a block flange of a manholeaperture or the like, in particular for fluidized bed reactors for theoxychlorination of ethylene, oxygen and HCl, having a wall flange fixedin the reactor wall, wherein the flange surface (5) pointing inward anddownward in the direction of gravity is of beveled design, at least insome areas.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bevel ofthe surface (5) is so great, at least in its area that is lowest in thedirection of gravity, that deposition of catalyst granules or the likeis prevented.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein thebevel of the surface (S) is designed to increase, beginning from thehorizontal median plane (6) in the inner edge region toward the verticalcenter (7) of the flange ring.